According to a new report released by Feeding America and the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, "Hunger in America 2014," in the food bank's service area more than 189,300 men, women and children turn to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and its member food pantries, and meal programs for food assistance each year.

Dave Karr

Stories of individuals and families struggling with hunger, many of whom never had to seek assistance before, are right here in our backyard and across the nation.

Many of the people in our community who face hunger have a job, a home and are raising families – 21 percent of households the Food Bank of South Central Michigan served report working in the past year. But 70 percent of the households served are living below the federal poverty line.

The food bank's work puts us on the front lines of the fight against hunger every day, and we have seen firsthand the consequences – especially for children – of not having enough to eat.

Children are particularly vulnerable to these consequences, including adverse physical, behavioral and mental health effects due to insufficient nutrition.

Through the study, we know we serve 55,000 children through our grocery/pantry programs, and this doesn't include the children served through our Kids' After-School Pack program. The work of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to help feed children is critical to our mission, and the future of our community.

On the other side of the age spectrum, 18 percent of the individuals we serve are seniors, 60 or older. For the most part these seniors are on fixed incomes that make them especially vulnerable to not receiving the nutrition the golden generation needs to live healthy, productive lives.

Looking at the household, families we serve often are facing health issues in addition to wondering how they will get enough food.

"Hunger in America 2014" found that 55 percent of households turning to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan's network report choosing between paying for food or paying for medical care in past year. 58 percent of households have a person with high blood pressure, and 37 percent report a member with diabetes. These health conditions are the same ones exacerbated by a lack of proper nutrition, highlighting the importance of charitable food assistance for the health of our neighbors.

Despite reports of declining unemployment and signs of a strengthening economy in our country, the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and its agencies see a persistent need among the 189,300 individuals making use of our hunger-relief network.

Stagnant wages and underemployment play a role in the continuing struggle. The "Hunger in America 2014" study finds that 47 percent of the households served have annual incomes of less than $10,000 while another 34 percent have incomes between $10,000 and $20,000.

These surprising new statistics about the people we serve are a wake-up call. We must work together to solve hunger in our community – individuals, charities, business and government.

We must work together so that all of us – children, seniors, the under/unemployed - have enough to eat. Take a stand against hunger.

Please visit our website: www.foodbankofscm.org or our Facebook page to learn how to become an anti-hunger advocate.

When you realize the true face of hunger in America and right here in Michigan, how can you remain silent?

- Dave Karr is the executive director of the Food Bank of South Central MI